“The Art of Narrative Nonfiction” Much is said about how to write fiction, but what about non-fiction? This panel moderated by best-selling author David Ewing Duncan will discuss the techniques for turning a biography into a National Book Award Winner. Featuring Tamim Ansary, Frances Dinkelspiel, Richard Rhodes, and T.J. Stiles. 6 p.m., free San Francisco Main Library 100 Larkin, SF www.litquake.org [1]

“The Complex Societies of Ants and Honeybees” Join Litquake and the California Academy of Sciences for a discussion led by two leading experts, Mark W. Moffett and Dr. Thomas D. Seeley, on our planet’s smallest and most complex social organizations. Co-sponsored by KQED, and moderated by KQED’s QUEST TV series producer Amy Miller.7 p.m., $15 Morrison Planetarium California Academy of Sciences55 Music ConcourseGolden Gate Park, SF www.litquake.org [1][1]“Dance, Intergenerational Trauma, and the Diaspora” Learn about the Katherine Dunham Technique at this lecture featuring Eyla Moore, teacher at ODC, Dance Commons, Hip Line, and Dance Fitness Studio, and Aliyah Dunn Salahuddin, dancer and tutor in City College of San Francisco’s African American Scholastic Program. 3 p.m., free City College of San Francisco Ocean Campus Rosenberg Library, Room 30550 Phelan, SF (415) 239-3854

The Funny Side of SexJoin Daily Show correspondent Kristen Schaal as she celebrates her first book, The Sexy Book of Sexy Sex, along with Scott Jacobson, co-author of the new book Sex: Our Bodies Our Junk, illustrator Michael Kupperman, and actor and writer Ted Travelstead. This evening of live and uncensored sex-humor unfolds at San Francisco’s legendary Cobb’s Comedy Club. Co-sponsored by Chronicle Books.8 p.m., $15Cobbs Comedy Club915 Columbus, SFwww.litquake.org[1]

Booksmith Bookswap Bring a book you passionately love but can part with and learn about dozens of new, fantastic books. Ticket price includes two drinks, appetizers, and a 20% discount card to purchase books after the event.6:30 p.m., $25 Booksmith 1644 Haight, SF www.litquake.org [1]

The International Homosexual ConspiracyAuthor Larry-bob Roberts offers humorous insights into the absurdities of modern life and queer culture, from contemporary topics like mistaken first impressions, to sustainable yet unaffordable pants, and critiques of bourgeois mindsets. 7 p.m., free Modern Times Bookstore888 Valencia, SF www.mtbs.com [2]

Litquake BitesLocal food and books, two of San Francisco’s favorite pastimes, converge at this delicious and informative lunchtime event featuring presentations and tastings by four innovative food purveyors and authors including Sarah Billingsley, Gordon Edgar, Steve Sando, and Amy Treadwell. Noon, free Book Passage 1 Ferry Building, SFwww.litquake.org[1][1]Stories on the Stage Hear short fiction stories about love lost, love never found, and love perpetually out of touch with authors Daniel Handler, Daniel Alarcón, and Yiyun Li. Directed by Sean San José, co-founder of Campo Santo, the award-winning resident theater company of San Francisco’s Intersection for the Arts.7:30 p.m., $25 Roda Theater Berkeley Repertory Theatre 2025 Addison, Berk. www.litquake.org[1]

Friday, Oct. 8

All-Memoir Women’s Night From finding love in foreign lands to struggling with poverty, from being in the sandwich generation to making the perfect brownie, women are fearless when it comes to exploring life and its myriad joys and challenges. Hear authors Zoe Fitzgerald Carter, Katherine Ellison, Laura Fraser, Frances Lefkowitz, Meredith Maran, Kate Moses, Janice Cooke Newman turn inward to provide us with stories that delight, dismay, and entertain. Emceed by Litquake co-director Jane Ganahl.6:30 p.m., $5-$10 donation Paris Ballroom501 Geary, SF www.litquake.org[1]“How to Write and Sell Erotica”Join a panel of editors, anthologists, and published authors as they offer practical tips and personal insights about how to write and sell all forms of erotica. Find out what magazines, websites, anthologies, and book publishers you can sell your work to, as well as tips on how to write more marketable erotica. 7:30 p.m., $5-$15 donation Center for Sex and Culture 1519 Mission, SF www.sexandculture.org[3]

“It’s All Over But the Crying” Enjoy a night of author talks on the world of sports, from the infinite variations of major-league baseball to the international phenomenon of the World Cup, with Alan Black, Howard Bryant, Dan Epstein, Dan Fost, David Henry Sterry, Jason Turbow, and Michael Zagaris. Special multimedia presentation by Bay Area sports photographer Michael “Z Man” Zagaris. Emceed by Litquake co-director Jack Boulware.7 p.m., $10 Hemlock Tavern1131 Polk, SF www.litquake.org [1]

Jonathan LethemNovelist, essayist, and short story writer Jonathan Lethem will discuss his latest novel, Chronic City. Co-presented by Litquake and San Francisco’s Jewish Community Center.11 a.m., $20 Jewish Community Center of San Francisco 3200 California, SF www.litquake.org[1]Litquake at the Bikestore In the late 19th century, an accountant named Frank Lenz quit his job to cycle around the world. Two years later he mysteriously disappeared during the final leg of the journey. Hear author David V. Herlihy discuss this mystery and his new book The Lost Cyclist. In conjunction with Green Apple Books.7 p.m., freePublic Bikes 123 South Park, SF www.litquake.org

Saturday, Oct. 9

Lit Crawl Get your fill of literary entertainment at galleries and bars across the Mission, where each phase offers crawlers a choice of attending readings happening simultaneously at over a dozen venues. With best-selling authors, poets, professors, bawdy story-tellers, amateurs, and professionals, it’ll be tough to choose three.Phase I 6pm-7pm, Phase II 7:15pm-8:15pm, Phase III 8:30pm-9:30pm; free Various venues along the Valencia Street Corridor Mission District, SFwww.litquake.org [1]

Sunday, Oct. 10

Social Justice with Claudette Colvin Attend this social justice event featuring a conversation between Enid Lee and Civil Rights legend Claudette Colvin, who refused to give up her seat to a white person on a Montgomery bus in 1955 and was the star witness in the federal case Browder v. Gayle, which desegregated the Montgomery buses. Also featuring a performance piece by Awele Makeba and a performance by poet, activist, and spoken word artist Bryonn Bain.1:30 p.m., free San Francisco Main Library100 Larkin, SFwww.litquake.org [1]

Left in the Dark Authors R.A. McBride and Julie Lindow celebrate twentieth century movie theatres and movie going in this book titled, Left in the Dark: Portraits of San Francisco Movie Theatres, a collection of personal essays and fine art photographs that casts the theatres as characters within the city's cultural landscape.7 p.m., freeCity Lights Bookstore261 Columbus, SFwww.litquake.org[1]

Joseph O’ Neill The award-winning novelist of Netherland will be discussing his new family memoir, Blood-Dark Track. 7 p.m., $20 Jewish Community Center of San Francisco3200 California, SF (415) 292-1200